Plant Research Term Project
( 2 )
The Celendula
Yuxiang Liu
1/14/2018
Chosen Herb: Colander
Word Count: 1500
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Introduction
Faulty arguments have mistakes which in turn can produce a wrong decision or opinion. It is common that in arguments of claims one usually finds that an opinion is logically invalid which renders it unsound. Fallacies usually are many and classified in accordance with their structure or content. The habitual use of these statements is to persuade where by one is aiming at eliciting a common agreement among different parties and being less concerned with the correctness of the statement. In the last assignment, I used various articles to write on calendula plant. I will use my reference articles from the last assignment in this work to find examples of faulty arguments and state exactly why I think the reasoning is poor. In the end, I will write a short advertisement for the calendula herb using at least two faulty arguments.
Argument 1
Research by Price, Annie from draxe.com/calendula/ urges people to use the calendula herb. It states, “Calendula is a plant that has been used for centuries for ornamental purposes, as well as culinary, cosmetic and medicinal reasons. Even if you’re not quite sure what it is, you probably are familiar with marigolds. This plant is in the same species as marigolds and often called by the alternative name pot marigold (Price, 2017).”
The intentions of the writer are clear, and it can be seen that the article aims at appealing to the masses. Because the plant has been in use for many centuries and proved beneficial for ornamental purposes, as well as culinary, cosmetic and medicinal reasons, everyone reading the article will think about this plant. The problem with this fallacy is that even if the writer wants to convince people on why they should embark on the use of this plant, actually not everyone in the claimed past centuries has used this plant or even known its existence. It is not justifiable that just because many people think about or used the plant for many years that then it renders it right or good to do.
Argument 2
Price in the introduction part of the article humorously introduces the Calendula herb instead of a valid logic to win an argument. According to the writer, “It’s easily harvested and extracted and looks beautiful whether the flowers are in a pot or steeping in a large glass jar. It can be made into a cream, oil, gel, compress, tincture or tea; used in a bath or facial steam; eaten in salads and stews; whipped into toothpastes or mixed into mouthwashes, and is gentle enough for babies and the elderly! What am I talking about? It’s the magical and powerful calendula!(Price, 2017).”
The writer uses an emotional appeal to manipulate the emotions of the reader other than use a logical argument to validate her sentiments. The writer only wants to get an emotional response from the reader. It is the reason why the author starts by explaining how it is easy to harvest and then lists the numerous use of the plants. The author later says that it is gentle enough for babies and the elderly, the most vulnerable groups in matters of health in the society. The author at the end humorously states what she was talking about, stating it as the “magical and powerful calendula.” The author using this fallacy shuts down the reader’s reasoning because we all know that this is what emotions do. In such a manner it is easy for the writer to sway the readers by getting them emotionally involved.
Argument 3
Dr. Mercola in his article on ‘Calendula Oil Benefits and Uses’ from articles.mercola.com/herbal-oils/calendula-oil.aspx tries to explain the benefits and uses of Calendula oil. In his explanation, he says, “Apart from also being used to honor Mary during Catholic events, marigold was also considered by ancient Egyptians to have rejuvenating properties. Hindus used the flowers to adorn statues of gods in their temples, as well as to color their food, fabrics, and cosmetics (mercola.com, 2017).”
The author has used religion, Christianity and Hinduism to demonstrate and convince the readers why they should embrace the use of calendula herb. It is an appeal to authority because the author is using an argument to persuade the reader by citing what a certain authority did and used the plant for beneficial purposes. The writer is trying to exploit the readers’ weaknesses because he knows that the Catholics will tend to accept the use of the plant simply because it is used to honor Mary during Catholic events. So will the Hindus followers when they know that the Hindus used the colander flowers to adorn statues of gods in their temples, as well as to color their food, fabrics, and cosmetics.
Rather than using logical arguments and facts, the writer utilizes the aspect of religion to seduce and convince the reader. It is common and almost obvious that when a Catholic or a Hindu reads the article, they will be convinced that the plant has a lot of benefits. Many will be convinced that there is no way that the plants can be used especially for religious practices if they are not of utmost importance and benefits. The particular authority used here is big, and therefore the writer can easily convince the reader that the colander plant is of beneficial use, evidently portrayed by past use by religious authorities.
Argument 4
The research from www.organicfacts.net on “7 Impressive Calendula Benefits & Uses” tries to explain what is the Calendula plant, its uses and the benefits possessed by the plants. According to the writers, “In terms of the parts of these small, yellow-flowered plants that are consumed, the petals are edible and have traditionally been used in soups and stews and salads, while a powerful chemical extract can be removed from the stems and leaves of calendula plants (www.organicfacts.net, 2017).”
The statement is faulty as bandwagon can be clearly be visualized. According to the article, the colander petals are edible and have traditionally been used in soups and stews and salads. Instead of using logical arguments, the author argues that since the plant has been traditionally used, then even the reader should be using this herb just because people have used it in the past. The problem with this statement is that not every person has used this plant in the past and therefore it is not justifiable that the plant has its benefits. The problem with this fallacy is that even if the writer wants to convince people on why they should embark on the use of this plant, actually not everyone in the claimed past centuries has used this plant or even known its existence. It is not justifiable that just because many people think about or used the plant for many years that then it renders it right or good to do.
The four arguments above are faulty all which aim at creating a positive impression on the reader just to seduce them to use the colander herb. The first and the last arguments are bandwagons which means that they are aiming at convincing people that the plant has many benefits and that it is why it has been used for many years. However, the truth is that even if the plant has been in use for centuries, every person has used this plant in the past and therefore it is not justifiable that the plant has its benefits. The second argument is an emotional appeal as the writer is using an emotional appeal to manipulate the emotions of the reader other than use a logical argument to validate her sentiments. The writer’s statement is aiming at getting an emotional response from the reader. The third argument is an appeal to authority. The author is referring to Catholicism and Hinduism use in the past and present to convince the reader that they should also use the plant
Please plant the Colander, a plant that has much value today and in traditional cultures. The Plant’s benefits can be proved by its use for centuries for ornamental purposes, as well as culinary, cosmetic and medicinal reasons (bandwagon). The plant is even a key component for developing a cure for cancer as my professor has said (appeal to authority).
Work Cited
Price, Annie. “The Antiviral Herb That May Ward Off Cancer.” Dr. Axe, 4 Dec. 2017, draxe.com/calendula/.
“7 Impressive Calendula Benefits & Uses.” Organic Facts, 3 Nov. 2017, www.organicfacts.net/health-benefits/other/calendula.html.
“Herbal Oil: Calendula Oil Benefits and Uses.” January 19, 2017, Mercola.com, articles.mercola.com/herbal-oils/calendula-oil.aspx.